Where can you eat good khinkali in Georgia, and how do you eat them?
How to spot good khinkali and why you leave the knot.
Short answer
Khinkali are eaten by hand: hold the knot, bite into the side, drink the broth and only then eat the dough and filling, leaving the knot on the plate. The best khinkali are made in specialist khinkali houses where they are folded on the spot; the dish comes from the mountain areas of Pshavi, Khevsureti and Tusheti. Khinkali usually cost 1-2 GEL each.
Why
- There is hot broth inside, so you drink it first to avoid spilling it.
- The knot is dense, so it is left, and counting knots shows how many you ate.
- Classic khinkali are made with beef and pork, herbs and pepper; there are also cheese, mushroom and potato versions.
Details
Khinkali are eaten hot, as soon as they arrive, often sprinkled with black pepper. They are ordered by the piece, usually five or more per person.
Common misconception
Khinkali are eaten with a knife and fork.
What actually happens
In Georgia they are eaten by hand, which keeps the broth inside until you drink it.
People also ask
- How do you eat khinkali?
Dish names and recipes vary across Georgia's regions; the most common versions are given here.
Khinkali in Batumi: where locals eatRelated questions
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Where can you eat good khinkali in Batumi?
Good khinkali in Batumi are served at specialist khinkali houses and Georgian restaurants, including ones away from the boulevard with more locals and lower prices.
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